August 1, 2003
`Thieves waste time stealing mobile phones'
Thieves not to bother stealing mobile phones.
"Officers in Calderdale say improvements in security measures make them unusable once they have been stolen. West Yorkshire police launched a force-wide campaign in May, texting more than 4,000 mobile phone users across the county with a message reminding them if their mobile is stolen they should contact their network and have it barred, ensuring it never works again.
Advances in technology mean when a mobile phone is stolen or lost, the victim can easily immobilise the phone by calling their own network or a helpline on 08701 123 123.
The key to immobilising any mobile phone is to make a note of the unique IMEI number. This can be obtained by dialling *#06#. The number is built into the phone and cannot be altered.
"If the phone is lost or stolen, the IMEI number can be given to the network company which will immobilise it so it can no longer be used", according to Detective Chief Inspector Jordan of Calderdale police in an article in The Huddersfield Daily Examiner.
Since April this year, almost one in five street robberies involved the theft of a mobile phone and 133 phones have been taken during house burglaries".
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